§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a formal response from the Turkmen authorities to the demarche issued in February concerning the continuing incarceration of Shageldy Atakov. [156086]
§ Mr. VazThe Turkmen Foreign Minister undertook to respond formally to the EU/US demarche in February but has not yet done so. We intend to remind the Turkmen authorities of our concern within the next week.
§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkmen authorities about their obligations in respect of the Shageldy Atakov case under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. [156087]
§ Mr. VazOn 23 February, EU Partners and the US issued a demarche to the Turkmen Foreign Minister regarding Shageldy Atakov's detention. We used this opportunity to remind the Turkmen Government of their international human rights commitments, which include those under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. We will continue to remind the Turkmen Government of their legal obligations in future representations regarding Mr. Atakov.